Reading Hospital Nursing Magnet Champions, in partnership with the Greater Berks Food Bank, are coordinating the 2018 Pound Per Person Food Challenge, which is encouraging each of the hospital's 7,000 employees to donate one pound of food.

The hospital's goal is to collect at least 7,000 pounds of non-perishable food for the food bank, which serves more than 60,000 people annually. The hospital has placed food collection boxes throughout its facilities, and it will transport the donations to the food bank on Friday, March 9.

The Greater Berks Food Bank collects, purchases, stores and distributes more than 7 million pounds of food annually to the more than 300 programs that feed the hungry in Berks, Schuylkill and Western Montgomery counties. It provides food directly to individuals as well.

This is seventh year that Reading Hospital is holding its Pound Per Person Challenge. In 2017, the hospital collected 11,460 pounds of food.